DAVID BLAIR FROM GLENDOUCLAS, JEDBURGH, AVOIDS JAIL AFTER MOLESTING 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN SCOTLAND

In a recent case heard at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, David Blair, a 51-year-old man from Glendouglas near Jedburgh, was found guilty of serious sexual offenses but managed to avoid imprisonment. The court was informed of two separate incidents involving Blair, which spanned over a period of several years and involved vulnerable victims.

One of the incidents took place in 1998 at Blair's then residence in Newtown St Boswells. A woman, aged 24 at the time, was staying over after a night out with her husband. She recounted waking to a disturbing scene where Blair was standing over her, naked, and touching her breasts and body beneath her clothing. This assault left a lasting impact on her, and she later reported the incident to authorities.

The second, more heinous offense involved an 11-year-old girl in January 2001. Blair admitted to a charge of lewd and libidinous practices, specifically molesting the girl’s breasts while she was sleeping. The court heard that the girl had struggled with her mental health following the assault, describing her as having 'gone off the rails.' It was only in the previous year that she felt able to come forward and report the abuse to the police.

During the court proceedings, Blair’s defense lawyer, Mat Patrick, emphasized that the offenses occurred over 16 years ago. He highlighted that Blair had not been involved in any criminal activity since then and claimed that his client did not recall behaving in such a manner. The lawyer also pointed out that Blair’s mental health was deteriorating at the time of the offenses, compounded by heavy alcohol consumption.

Despite the gravity of the crimes, Sheriff Peter Paterson decided on a relatively lenient sentence. Blair was placed on probation for three years, during which he must adhere to certain conditions. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid community service. His name has also been entered onto the Sex Offenders Register for a period of three years, marking a significant but non-custodial consequence of his actions.

This case underscores the ongoing issues surrounding sexual offenses and the importance of reporting abuse, even many years after the incidents occurred. It also highlights the judicial system’s approach to balancing punishment with considerations of mental health and rehabilitation.